January 23, 2026
With Netflix’s His & Hers climbing into the platform’s Top 10, attention is turning to one of the breakout faces from the limited series’ flashback scenes — actress Kristen Maxwell, who plays Teen Anna, the younger version of Tessa Thompson’s character.
Though her screen time appears in pivotal flashbacks set at St. Hilary’s Academy, Maxwell’s performance has resonated with viewers, adding emotional depth to the mystery thriller now trending worldwide. Off screen, the 20-year-old actress is also drawing interest for something she wears with pride: her Caribbean heritage.
Maxwell recently shared that she is a first-generation American with deep roots in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. Born in Queens, New York, to a Jamaican mother and Trinidadian father, she credits her grandmothers with keeping her closely connected to Caribbean culture throughout her upbringing.
“I spent the majority of my childhood with my grandmothers, making me very deeply rooted in our culture,” Maxwell said in a previous interview.
Although she later moved with her mother and sister to suburban Georgia, Maxwell ultimately returned to New York City, where her acting career began to take shape. What started as meetings for commercial representation quickly evolved into opportunities in film and television — a shift she says happened almost organically.
“Before I knew it I was auditioning for some of the best projects out there,” she said. “That’s why I always say that in a way this career chose me.”
Maxwell first gained attention for her role as Teen Sidney in Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin and has since continued building momentum. She professionally trained in the Meisner technique at the Maggie Flanigan Studio in New York City, grounding her performances in emotional realism — a skill evident in her portrayal of Teen Anna.
His & Hers, which premiered on Netflix on January 8, 2026, is based on Alice Feeney’s 2020 novel of the same name. The American mystery thriller stars Tessa Thompson, Jon Bernthal, Pablo Schreiber, Rebecca Rittenhouse, and Sunita Mani, and has quickly become one of Netflix’s most talked-about releases this year.
For Maxwell, representation matters. In a 2022 interview, she cited Rihanna as a major inspiration, pointing to the global impact of Caribbean women.
“Watching a Caribbean girl from a small island just like my mom become one of the most influential people in the world has made me admire Rihanna a lot,” she said, adding that the confidence Rihanna embodies is “deeply rooted in all Caribbean women.”
As His & Hers continues to trend, Kristen Maxwell’s rise is also being closely watched — not just as a promising young actress, but as another Caribbean-rooted talent making her mark on the global stage.